A Gilera prototype, which is actually an Aprilia Shiver 900 with very few modifications, has recently been “hunted” on Chinese roads. This makes us think that the Piaggio group, owner of Gilera, has in its sights the revitalization of a brand that has been in hibernation for some years.
We know that traditional European brands are highly valued by Chinese companies, and that they acquire them to give added value to their products. Good examples of this are Benelli and Moto Morini. This is not the case in particular, but it could lead to the resurgence of Gilera in some international markets.
And we cannot forget that Zongshen Piaggio Foshan Motorcycle is present in China, a company that combines the Piaggio Group and Zongshen Industry. Its objective is the production and sale of some specific vehicles of the Italian group, apart from the specific range of Piaggio and Aprilia. The area of influence of the Italian-Chinese group spans the length and breadth of the globe, covering points as disparate as Central and South America, Southeast Asia and East Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Oceania.
Zongshen, the Chinese giant that produces more than a million motorcycles a year, presented the RA9 Cyclone at the Chongqing International Automobile Exhibition last year. A concept bike that in fact was, or is, a completely reconfigured Aprilia Shiver 900. Something that gives us an idea of the existing commitment between both manufacturers. And next to it, a V2 propellant with the initials of Gilera serigraphed on its covers was exposed…
Which brings us to the protagonist of this news. That is to say, a kind of “Gilera Shiver 900”, to name it in some way, since its name will logically be another. We believe that the definitive model will be presented at the end of the year, for its commercialization it will be in 2023.
What we don’t know is if it will experience many changes – particularly on an aesthetic level – until then. Nor if it will reach Europe… But it would not be unreasonable considering that the regulations on polluting emissions in the Asian country are not far from our Euro5.
The fact that she is named after Gilera could mean that Zongshen wants to take her out of Asia. We will see.